The rain had finally stopped, and just in time for the sun to wake and spread its light in the sky. It was exciting to her, and also very important. She wanted to see that male cub again, want to talk to him about everything and apologize again for her hurtful words. Maybe he was fond of his family, even if they thought he was a freak or whatever. But… why would they think that in the first place?
Getting permission from one of her mothers she quickly rushed out of the den, hoping maybe today she would be allowed to finally see him again. See, Harb. The little mysterious lion.
Luck was on her side as the first creature she would see would be the back of Harb's head. He was sitting on a rock, staring up into a tree with a puzzled look on his face. Ever so often his ears would twitch annoyed, a faint grumbling sound rumbling in his chest.
Shahla stopped abruptly, a worried look falling over her face. Something was wrong with him, she could feel it. He seemed upset to her, upset or hungry? No… He wouldn’t be sitting on a wet rock staring up if he was hungry. Staring at him for a couple minutes she gathered her courage and moved closer to him, until she was standing beside the rock and him. Had something happened with his family again? “Good morning Pesar Harb.”
A stangled yelp spilled form him as he tumbled from the rock to land at her feet. He blinked up at her upside down and grinned, " Hello again Shahla. Did you have a night?" He rolled to his feet with a faint smile as he shook dirt from his tan coat.
Shahla stared blankley at him, what did he mean by have a night? Pondering the question for a couple seconds she shook her head. “I am not sure what you mean by that.” She stared at him as he rolled over, shaking the dirt from his fur. He was certainly strange, but she enjoyed that about him in a strange way. “I am glad you are here.”
"Oh?" He smiled at her gently, " Well I am glad you are here too. I wanted to apologize for how rude I was to you last time we met. You touched on a sore subject and well , I took my emotions out on you."
Shahla smiled and nodded lightly before allowing him to continue. She would have to turn to apologize to him afterword. She knew she had touched a sore spot in his life and had been rude for trying to dig instead of letting go of it. “I thank you pesar Harb, but I too am at fault. I was far too curious. I wanted to help so much I hurt you instead. Please forgive me for my pestering words.” She bowed to him, holding it until he seemed satisfied with her. Until then she would continue to give him her head in respect and apology.
Harb blinked then smiled, dipping his head to try to meet her eyes, " Please Shahla, don't bow to me. I would like to be your friend,and friends are honest with each other aren't they?" He chuckled and tickling the tip of her nose with the fluff at the end of his tail.
A deep blush filled her cheeks, as she stared at him, pulling herself up to meet his gaze. He was right about that, friends didn’t bow to each other, and were always honest. Good friends anyway. Wiggling her nose as he tickled it she sneezed then giggled. “Pesar Harb is a very kind lion.” She smiled bright at him before looking towards the rock. “What brought you here so early? Did the rain wake you as well?”
"Please just call me Harb." He smiled at her, his eyes bright when she met his gaze. "I don't sleep much." He shrugged, not wanting to admit the terrors that plauged his dreams.
“Ok!” The dark pelted cub chirped as she watched his face twist into a smile. He had a nice smile, and what made it better? The smile was real, not fake like the last felt. Frowning at his reply she shook her head at him. “You will get sick if you don’t sleep!” She stared hard at him, attempting to seek out what was troubling him in his eyes. “Is.. everything alright?”
He blinked startled at her insight then shook his head with a ruthful chuckle, " See right through me don't you Shah? " Sighing his smile fell away slowly as he looked back up at the tree, and the two small birds perched there. " I don't sleep because I can't sleep."
Quirking a brow at him, Shahla waited for his explanation. Sleep was a normal part of life, everyone sleeps, even those that are strange sleep. To not sleep, that either meant some very bad was wrong, or that the person didn’t want to sleep at night. “Not really, it just odd. Sleep is a natural thing to do. To not sleep… well.” Looking up at the two birds she watched them, flitting about in a carefree manner. What she would give to be able to have a carefree life like the birds. “Harb… why can’t you sleep? It disturbs me that you can’t. You could…. Die… Ya’Know?”
His parents had never told him not to tell, but something had always kept him from telling others his secret but there was just something about her...
"If I tell you Shahla you must promise not to tell anyone...ever. Not even your father." It was alot to ask the little female, but it was too important to be left to chance. He didn't think she was the type to gossip.
Watching the boy with concerned eyes, she waited. Whatever was going on it wasn’t a good thing and she felt badly for him. Chewing lightly on the inside of her cheek she kept from speak anymore, allowing him his time to think. Then he spoke, seriously. No lies would come between them talking like this. “ Not… even Papa. Our own secret?” She stared at the ground. She had never given someone word over her own father before. Crossing her brow in thought she looked at him. She could trust him, she knew it. “I will keep this secret from all others. It will be our secret to share.” She smiled at him, reassuring him that she would keep her word.
Harb smiled at her faintly, " I am a seer Shahla." Looking to her, his emerald eyes were dark with shadows. " I see things in my dreams. Things that can be and things that will be."
Shahla stared a Harb, unsure as to what to say. She didn’t know much about seers after all and most certainly didn’t know how to help one sleep. Looking for the right words her eyes shifted towards the ground, staring at his feet before looking back up. “Are they always bad? Can you fix it them somehow? Make the outcome better?” her eyes looked concerned, uncertain of what to do to comfort the boy.
"I don't know." He sighed softly looking at his feet. "Sometimes my dreams at good. I see my family growing, my father teaching more cubs, having another banu in his life. I see myself as a man." He didn't want to tell her that he had seen her, lovely and sure standing by his side once. "Then sometimes...sometimes they are so bad I wake up screaming. I see pads killing banu's in a rage. I have seen my sisters.." His voice trailed off not wanting to scare her with the violence he had seen. "I don't know if I can change them."
Ear perked as he began his tale of his dreams, they seemed fairly exciting and entranced her, that is, until the suddenly went dark. Eyes stared at him, frightened at what he spoke of. What was going to happen to everyone, what would happen to her father and the other Pads? “Wh..” She couldn’t speak, tears filling her eyes, stinging them. There had to be a way to change it, it was the future right, soo… everything could be fixed. “Y-you… you can change it. I know you can. You were given this gift, to protect everyone.” She knew that, she felt it in her heart, but she wasn’t quite sure why she felt so sure. “If you want to ever talk about them… those horrible nightmare dreams.. My ears will happily be lent to you.”
He reached out and with a paw drew her close, licking the tears from her cheek. "Shhhh Shah. I will try to change the bad things. " He hadn't wanted to burden her with his fears, and yet he had done just that. "You are the only one I have ever told Shah, I have told my parents some things, but not all of it."
Dark blue eyes stared at him, still worried, be relieved at what he said. He was going to try and fix thing, and maybe, she would be allowed to help him. “I will try and help… fix everything. I don’t want to see your bad dreams come true.” Her forehead rested on his. “Thank you… for trusting me Harb. I believe you will do great things, even with being a seer. But I still want to be there for you as well.”
He made a soft rumbling purr, " of course I trust you. You are my friend Shah, and we will fix things." He didn't really believe it, he wanted to believe but he just couldn't, but he wasn't going to tell her that.
Shahla felt worried, but didn't say anything to him about it. She would make things right, or at least try to. It was the best she could do for him, she didn't want to see the pride get ripped apart. Her poor father... and Harb. He was plagued with the visions. "Even if you don't think we can. Not trying make it so we never will be able to."
He chuckled softly as he gently butted his head against hers purring. " We will change things, it just takes a long time Shah."
She giggled and rubbed her head into his, feeling his fur wrap with hers. It was a nice, odd, sort of feeling. "Of course!" She laughed, pulling away from him to look towards the sky and out at the sun. When had it come out? "It looks lovely after a rainfall."
"Again with the sun" he teased chuckling softly. Thought it was a little bit more obvious now why he didn't care for the sunrise...it was just enough day when you had to live life in your dreams.
She looked back at him, pausing for a second before blushing. "I am sorry. I don't know why I am so attracted to it really. It gets me sick because it is so hot and soemtimes hurts my eyes. Yet I oddly enjoy the thing." her face lite up as she bounced closer to him. "One day I hope to be able to share the feeling with you Harb."
"I am just glad that it makes you happy." He chuckled softly as he streched out on his stomach watching her. She was so bright and friendly, she made him happy.
Shahla looked at him, then smiled, she liked it when he was happy to. If she could just find a way to always be there to keep him happy. She would be complete then.
